isloc's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
philbojones's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
motherofunicorns's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sheilajenn's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Another adventure with Aubrey and Maturin! Half the book is spent ashore, with Austen-feeling intrigue. The rest is ship battles, described in lovingly detailed terms which honestly just wash over me with a sense of "well, the author knows what he's talking about even if I don't."
In this book, Aubrey and Maturin quarrel. It could all be solved if they talked about their feelings, but they're men, and Regency gents no less, so of course they don't. It can be difficult even figuring out what their feelings are! It's more subtle than Austen about that, for sure.
But in the end, of course, we know our boys love each other more than any of the women around, and how could they not? This book includes many endearing moments with the two of them that make me see exactly why they get along.
I listened to this in audio format and the narration was excellent too.
In this book, Aubrey and Maturin quarrel. It could all be solved if they talked about their feelings, but they're men, and Regency gents no less, so of course they don't. It can be difficult even figuring out what their feelings are! It's more subtle than Austen about that, for sure.
But in the end, of course, we know our boys love each other more than any of the women around, and how could they not? This book includes many endearing moments with the two of them that make me see exactly why they get along.
I listened to this in audio format and the narration was excellent too.
effone's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
justfoxie's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely the weakest link of the series, but unfortunately necessary to set up some of the key relationships and plot points for later. If you like Regency romance novels, then perhaps you won't mind this one so much, but if, like me, you were looking for more of the same from book 1. . .well, grit your teeth and bear it. The good news is that when Jack meets Polychrest you're well on your way back to the story and pace you loved best in the first book.
thedocument's review against another edition
5.0
Wonderful, funny and exciting. This second entry in the series benefits from a comedy-of-manners sub-plot which takes its cues from Austen. It has a much more personal feel to it, bringing you closer to the characters than the first book. It makes me sad when my boys are fighting :(
madswag27's review
The one with: dressing up as a dancing bear to sneak through France, all the Jane Austen-esque land shenanigans, Stephen's a slob and Jack does the dishes, Jack sort-of gets mugged in the park by a useless thief and ends up knocking the thief out and taking him home so Stephen can patch him up???, when you are at odds with your BFF and you're a man obvs the only course of action is challenging him to a mortal duel that never happens, some naval action... and THEN, finally the important bit, Stephen shows up aboard in his weird embarrassing "woollen garment", with his narwhal horn and sixty-thousand bees. Bees? Bees! Bees on a ship. This goes exactly as well as you would expect.